TC255 Discovery Upgrades

Discovery · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:08 am Post subject: TC255 Discovery Upgrades

I have been doing a few modifications to Discovery, in preparation for our winter cruising.

I have added 90 watts of solar panels, and a Shakespeare Sea Watch TV antenna.

This shows the TV antenna in the stowed position.

Here we have the 15" TV monitor in the up position.

and in the viewing position.

I removed the reversable seat and put in a forward port side cabinet.

I raised the helm seat 4", also adds a place to store log book and other manuals etc.

We are planning to spend two or three months aboard Discovery this winter in Florida. The mods will make for more comfortable cruising.

Anyone else going to be in Florida this winter? We would enjoy spending time with some other C-Brats. Maybe stay long enough to do the Bahamas, if a crossing gets organized.

sportner · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

Way cool Brent !!!

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:29 pm Post subject:

Brent, Did you build that forward dinette cabinet yoursel? great idea for more storage and better weight distribution.

I am wondering, did you move your house batteries forward, under the aft dinette seats? I seem to remember someone having done this on a TomCat to help with the weight distribution.

I like the folding antenna. John

Discovery · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject:

drjohn,

Our batteries are in the trays to either side of the cockpit seat. Two on each side. Exide Orbital 31DM's. They are a spiral gel type. I did the cabinet work, the materials came from the factory. This was before the factory discontinued the direct customer support.

The extra weight on the port side does help to equalize the side to side trim. Next I am putting a Coolfreeze CF 50 Freezer, in the rear port side cabinet.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

Brent, beautiful work! Great pictures too, thanks. I was hoping the TV folding mount was separate, but looks like it's part of the TV, true?

SeaSpray · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:33 pm Post subject:

Hi Bent,

Very nice work!

I was just thinking where a good place to go cruising in the winter would be - too bad I still have to work. Maybe not too many more years. Until then I will read your posts and get a preview of places to go.

Steve

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

Great work, Brent! David - does this inspire you to do anything? Laughing

Two of everything of course!

416rigby · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject:

Very nice cabinet! I like the way you raised the seat, too...great use of that space. Hey, what kind of TV is that? We're in the market for one...is it a Sanyo? Also interested in that mount.

Rick

drjohn71a · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:02 am Post subject:

I want a friend just like Dave! Maybe we'll have to get him into a TomCat so's he can custom fit stuff like this for us!

Brent, I am amazed you travel so much, but still find time for this type of neat remodel. That extra port cabinet looks real handy.

John

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:16 am Post subject:

Very nice work Brent. May just inspire me to start another project.

Discovery · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

Hi C-Brats,

The TV mount is a generic swivel type mount for a mid-size flat panel LCD. I changed it around from the configuration it came in. Only used the parts in a different order, so it articulates differently. Cost $48.00 on closeout at K-Mart. Regularly about $79.00

The TV is a Magnavox 15" LCD, it's from Walmart and was $228.00. The TV has a 110 V plug-in, that supplies a transformer/power supply. The power supply output was 12 v. at 4.5 amps. I just cut off the cord coming out of the power supply, and wired the TV directly to the boat 12 v. system, via a 5 amp fuse and switch. The switch also powers the antenna amplifier.

The Shakespeare antenna is a model 2025 and has a built-in (-10 to +25 db ) amplifier, cost $138.00 on Ebay

The helm seat riser was necessary because Dixie is too short to have a good view from the helm. She had been using a throwable life preserver cushion, but it slid around too much to be safe. I am 6' 4" and was pleased that it even improved my view from the helm.

El and Bill · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:47 am Post subject:

Great work, Brent -- now some info about those solar panels, please --

JamesTXSD · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:51 am Post subject:

Hi Brent,

We are planning to head for Florida after the first of the year. Nothing certain for timing, yet, as we're still working on some family stuff. Let's coordinate here to see if we can meet up.

Nice mods!

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject:

Great work, Brent!

Excellent placement of the various electronic components, too!

Have you started to notice any difference in acceleration or top speed with the increased weight?

Joe.

Discovery · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:05 pm Post subject:

El & Bill, Hi, the solar panels are from Northern Tool & Equipment. 15 watts each, I think UniSolar is the manufacturer. Cost From $70.00 to $100.00 each, depending on the deal that's going at the time. I had 4 to start with. Used them for the Norcold fridge. Did an excellent job. We used the fridge 24/7 for two months, and never a battery issue. Now we are adding a Coolfreeze CF-50 fridge/freezer. Both the Norcold and the CF-50 will draw from the same battery bank. Two Exide Orbital 34DM gel batteries. They are charged by the 6 solar panels, and the port Honda 135, when running. Also a Ranger, 2 bank 10 amps/bank, charger, when on shore power.

JamesTXSD, We would enjoy meeting, and cruising with you. Let's keep in touch. Fred and Deb (TomCat 24) also expressed an interest in getting together in Florida. They spent last year at Marathon Key, and know the ropes.